‘Ongoing concerns’ at mental health trust which cared for Nottingham killer

26 Mar 2024 • 6:28 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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The health watchdog has highlighted “ongoing concerns” at the trust where Valdo Calocane was treated before he killed Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates in Nottingham last year.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said that Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust must improve “to protect patients, families, and the public from the risk of harm”.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins called for a rapid review of the trust in January after Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order for the killings.

Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, admitted manslaughter on the grounds diminished responsibility due to mental illness.

The CQC has published two parts of its review – an assessment of patient safety at the trust and an assessment of progress made at Rampton high-security hospital since it was last inspected.

A third part of the view – on Calocane’s care from the trust – will be published in the summer.

CQC said that over the last five years it has raised “ongoing concerns about the quality of community and inpatient mental health services at NHFT and has taken enforcement action including restricting admissions to Rampton Hospital”.